Dwight Howard. The man child of the NBA. Dwight Howard can be described in so many words: Beast, Animal, One Man Wrecking Crew, and another word comes into mind, goner? Is Dwight Howard going to leave Orlando? With 2 years ago making it to the Finals against the Lakers, it seemed like Dwight just needed a little bit of help, and it looked like the Magic were going to go over the hump. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like Magic management was going in the right direction. Instead this year they traded for Gilbert Arenas, giving up size and length in Rashard Lewis and also reacquiring Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson and getting rid of 2 keys to their bench in Center Marcin Gortat and Guard Mickael Pietrus. Well in both of those trades it didn't seem to work out. Arenas in this past 1st round loss to Atlanta, averaged 7 ppg and 13 mpg! 13 minutes!! And it doesn't get any better from two of their other go to guys, with Turkoglu and starting PG Jameer Nelson averaging 13ppg in the series and Turkoglu shooting a mediocre 27% from the field. That provided basically nothing for the Magic while Dwight went off and averaged 27 ppg and 16 rpg! In this process even setting some playoff records for the Magic, and going off for 46 and 19 in the last game of the series. The Magic have had a history of this exact scenario. In the early 90's the Magic achieved success in developing skills with then young center Shaquille O'Neal and PG Penny Hardaway providing big playoff runs and a finals run for the Magic. Until the Magic, basically let Shaq go and Penny followed. After mediocre seasons the Magic hit the jackpot in 2004 by getting Dwight Howard with the 1st pick. Once again the process occurred with the Magic achieving early success and now starting to slip. The Magic aren't even considered a top 3 team in the East anymore, and after their performance against Atlanta in the 1st round shouldn't have even been a 4 seed. The Magic are a on/off team who depend on their jump shooting most nights and of course the incredible performances of Dwight Howard. Dwight has improved throughout his career putting up even more ridiculous numbers every season, and becoming a guy who literally can only beat himself, and can't be guarded. I expect Dwight to strongly consider leaving, but don't expect the Magic to be burned this time. Rumors have swirled about the possibility of Dwight being traded to LA for Andrew Bynum or to NJ for Brook Lopez. It seems like either scenario would be good for Dwight and even for the Magic. The cycle looks like it will continue with the Magic letting their superstar center go in order to attempt to build around another one. I really hope Dwight stays, to stop these BIG 3's from occurring around the league, but after Orlando played this past 1st round, a team that literally quit on Dwight, maybe new scenery is a good move for him.
Seize the Day People.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mArHU1ewSog- Dwight's off-season work with Hakeem Olajuwon and the early stages of Dwight possibly becoming even more of a force.
If Dwight leaves, there is only one person to blame...DWIGHT! There are no guarantees in life other than paying taxes, dying and STUPID message boards! Hey Dwight, you've had a chance to show what you've got and you failed miserably against the Lakers in the Finals. You continue to think you're a scoring machine, but all you really do is muck up the offense. You go through highs and lows at the free throw line, which prevents going to you at the end of a close game. You turn the ball over more than most politicians flip-flop. You always seem to fail just at the worst possible time during a close game. You don't learn from your idiotic fouls and whining tantrums. You've never learned that passing off is a part of smart basketball and keeps everyone in rhythm to make those long threes. If nobody's told you, yet, you ARE allowed to go after an offensive rebound. And lastly, if ANYBODY has been patient the last 7 years it's been the Magic fans. Your off the court moral failures are catching up with your good civic reputation. Seems the rumor is you've put more than one bun in the oven. I can't think of any other city and fans that would have been more perfect for you growing up into the MAN your God called you to be. If you leave for "greener pastures," be careful where you walk. There's a whole lotta dung out there!
ReplyDeleteGreat input my man. I couldn't agree more, Dwight has been complaining about the fouls and everything but he has been attempting to work harder. I know in that Olajuwon video I posted he does seem to be developing new moves but I still haven't seen him use any of the moves that Olajuwon has taught him. I have thought that Dwight has been overrated for quite some time now because of his inability in the post. Though, Orlando management has to do with this a bit, where they traded away Gortat and Lewis for more and more shooting guards. Orlando was overmatched against the Hawks in every matchup except for Dwight. I really hope Dwight doesn't leave but you're right in the sense that I don't think I have seen the fire in Dwight's eyes like I have with other superstars (ie Wade, Kobe, Lebron,KG, etc)and it seems like he jokes around too much on the court. I know I mentioned LA or NJ as possible destinations where Dwight would be once again the main man, and I'm not sure he's still ready for that. To help him Orlando should get better #2 options, but we will see. Thanks once again for posting, and I'm glad that somebody is reading the blog, haha.
ReplyDeleteYou are a gentleman and a scholar! Everything concerning Dwight and everything else might be a moot point...May 21st is supposed to be doomsday! Can't it wait until this Dwight thing blows over?! I've stuck my neck out and said he will stay, Gilbert will heal and Van Gundy will return to a ball movement, not BOWEL movement, offense. It needs a good laxative, too!
ReplyDeleteYa man I was thinking the same that Gilbert would be such a spark for them, but he got like no minutes during the playoff run and came off the bench as a 6th man. Total waste of a trade when they gave up Lewis for Arenas. If they were gonna use him as a 6th man it was a total waste of a trade. I really hope though that Dwight would listen to Ewing and Olajuwon in helping improve his game, and I hope he doesn't form another BIG 3, somewhere. NBA teams should be focused on building through the draft, and developing their own players, not trying to trade/sign every big name.
ReplyDeleteI just watched a youtube video of Gilbert scoring 60 against the Lakers, 12/17/06, with 31 against Kobi guarding him. The GM rolled the dice. Maybe he knows something from his adopted "son." (He's that close to Arenas). The problem is Magic management kisses the ground he walks on. They now have to convince him that better days are ahead. The best thing that could happen would be the Hawks winning it all! All of a sudden the Magic were soooo close, losing 3 close ones. Dwight would have to stay! Dwight has lost all respect for Van Gundy. Does not even listen to him during time outs. With a new 1/2 billion dollar arena, the Magic must pull the largest rabbit ever pulled out of a hat to survive a tsunmai of cancelled season tickets! God bless those Japs! Given enough time, things sure can turn around! The Magic don't have time on their side, or cap room. Magic fans are now spoiled. Just a while go they went to the Finals. Now everybody thinks they deserve a championship. It took the Red Sox 86 years. I'm pushing for Don Nelson to become a short term solution for GM. Van Gundy loves him and Nelson knows better than anyone about a point-forward running a quick offense, with the center at the top of the key. (Dwight sits too low). Nelson also knows about improving free throw %. He changed his own shooting style as a player and improved greatly! Sound familiar? Thanks for sharing...I've got too much time on my hands caring for my 86 year-old disabled mom! You probably have a life!
ReplyDeleteHoly crap...I'm talking about Arenas, then use Magic management kissing the ground he walks on. "He" is Dwight. Sorry!
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